In tired strides, Lorelai walked back to the waiting room. When she had rounded the corner, William was asleep in the next chair over from him.
"The kid can sleep anywhere." He gazed over at his son, pulling up on his jacket that was draped over William's small body.
"Yeah he can." Quietly she reached over and brushed her hand through her William's hair. It was her favorite thing to do. "Any word on Rory?"
Shaking his head, Luke put one hand on her shoulder as she sat down. "No, nothing. I asked the nurse at the desk but she had nothing new to tell me. At least not anything we didn't know already."
"What could possibly be taking them so long?" She thought about it, then turned towards him while her eyes were wide as saucers. "Luke, what if something happened to Rory, or she got abducted and no one noticed of her disappearance?"
"Rory did not get abducted by aliens, we're in a hospital; they are meant to be safe and a very big part of the healing process. Look." He pointed out where they were, although that reality was settling in, he still couldn't help cringing being here. But if anything, he wished the doctor would come out and tell them something-but as ten minutes passed without so much as a word, Luke let his hand rest on the small of her back.
At the sudden gesture, Lorelai gazed up at him with pain filled eyes. "I just want to know if she's okay, Luke. I want to know that she's living and breathing and still my daughter who I helped raise from birth." She rambled at a lower speed, letting her head rest against the wall; eyes closing.
She didn't move for several minutes, so Luke leaned over in her direction to see if she had fallen asleep. "Who could sleep in these chairs?" The inquiry of her question had Luke jumping back in surprise and answering his unspoken question of if she had fallen asleep, at the same time. He waited to see if she was going to open her eyes and make some sort of quip, but she was quiet, resting as best as her tired body would let her, so he settled in as well and let his head rest against the wall. But just as he was about fall asleep, her voice came through again. "Luke, you awake?"
He sighed; eyes still closed. "I am now." Internally he groaned, feeling another round of silence. It was late now and the ER was surprisingly not filled up, and things were pretty quiet since the last time they had all been fully awake. "What is it Lorelai?"
"These chairs are uncomfortable." She protested, shifting around.
"Would it help if you slept in my lap?" Luke asked, half asleep. Of course the suggestion wasn't exactly realistic, but underlined with a hint of sarcasm. In a way he worried too, but they were exhausted and it was late now.
"I would get up, but I can't seem to move." Her response was numb, filled with sleep. She hadn't moved an inch since she had laid her head back.
"You don't say..." Luke trailed off, sleep filling his thoughts. In fact that was the last thing he remembered until he felt his shoulder being shaken some time later.
"Luke? Wakie, wakie."
"What is it Lorelai?" Luke mumbled, not yet realizing the fact that his body had practically molded into the chair.
"I think the doctor is going to come out and talk to us soon."
"You think, or you know?" Sitting up painfully, Luke stretched as best as he could; careful that he didn't wake up William in the process. "What time is it?" He relented, adjusting the cap on his head.
"Ten-thirty, and I just have a feeling." She offered, half distracted, looking back and forth from the nurse's station to the oak doors. She stayed like that until the door opened, and she exclaimed "Bingo!" and stood up briskly as walked out, then stopped. She had long blond curly hair, about five foot six.
Luke and Lorelai exchanged a glance, then he stood up. "Right here." A half wave from Lorelai ushered the doctor over quickly, then tucked her hands together, but that still didn't cut out any of the anxiousness out what they could be informed of.
Luke stuffed his hands in his pocket. "How is she?"
She looked over both of them, then over to William and gave a welcoming smile. "Rory is stable. Now she has a mild case of dehydration, so we're slowly hoping to get some of those fluids replaced. Like most pregnancies that I've seen over the years as a doctor, Rory is also suffering from exhaustion. I'm going to assume that she's like you Lorelai and experiencing many symptoms while trying to take on a full loaded schedule at the same time."
"Only guilty as charged." Lorelai quipped, holding up her hand.
Dr. Ferguson smiled, "Well then you know how it goes. Rory is going to have to take it easy if she doesn't want another trip to the ER." then let her hand rest on Lorelai's shoulder. "You can go see her if you want, but I want to keep her overnight at least so we can replace all the fluids that she's lost."
"So she's alright then?"
"Yes, she's quite alright. In fact she's wide awake and asking for all of you." The doctor in her mid- forties turned then called back, "If you'd follow me— I'll even take you right to her."
Lorelai started to follow her, but Luke grabbed her hand, gently looking at their sleeping son. By that time, Dr. Ferguson had turned back around as well. "It's alright if we bring him back?" Luke sucked in a deep breath. He really hated hospitals. In fact, he had almost passed out when Lorelai was in labor with William, just because he was standing there in a hospital.
Dr. Ferguson was the one to answer. "Very. I'm sure Rory would like to see him as well." Turning on one heel, she walked at a slower pace, conversing with one of the nurses at the station, so they could catch up.
"You going to be alright?" Lorelai had turned to him as he scooped up William from the chair.
"Yeah. I mean why wouldn't I be? Rory's fine, everybody's fine."
"Luke? You're rambling. And that only means one thing. You're not going to pass out on us are you?"
"No, I am not going to pass out." Relenting, he rubbed William's back to sooth him back to sleep.
"Daaaddy. Whre we goin?" William inquired tiredly, raising his head from his shoulder; chin delicately balancing his head, eyes closed.
"We're going to see Rory."
"Ry Ry?" He exclaimed happily, rubbing his eyes with the balls of his fists. The little boy sat up quickly, looking around as they quickly disappeared from the waiting room, behind the wooden doors. "Where she is daddy?" He rubbed his fists into his eyes again, trying to wake up quicker than he was able, then laid his head back down on his shoulder; eyes drooping.
"She's just around the corner." Dr. Ferguson called back, and then addressed both Lorelai and Luke. "We're waiting for the okay to get her into a room, so I put her in the farthest curtain away from all the commotion. I'll let you know when we move her upstairs."
"Thanks." Luke offered as they both stared ahead. He took in a deep breath and heard Lorelai do the same, although a deeper intake. By the expression on her face, he saw the lines of worry as she stepped forward and pulled back the curtain.
There sat Rory, slightly curled under a thin white sheet and blanket- broken but relieved as her expression registered their arrival. She sat up slowly, wordlessly hugging her mother, and then looked around her to see Luke holding William as well.
"Luke." Her voice was soft, cracking. "My knight and shining armor. I guess I have you to thank for getting me here. Although the whole thing is still a bit fuzzy."
"Ah well-" Luke fumbled. "It was really nothing. I'm just glad you and the baby are okay."
Shrugging, Lorelai informed her. "He pretty much figured it out on his own kid."
"Ah drats." Rory snapped her fingers. "I guess that free coffee is off the list."
"And a number of other things too." Luke added, sitting on the edge of the bed, stepping forward. "William wanted to see you. I guess he's a little tired since it's past his bed time."
"No sweepies." William protested, rubbing his eyes. "Ry Ry?"
"I'm here kid."She smiled sadly at her little brother, hoping he would see through it as he turned and smiled happily at her; holding his hands out to her that he would be freed. Luke obliged and set him on the bed, and he clumsily climbed over to her, throwing his little arms around her neck. "Miss ewe."
"I missed you too."
Luke watched the exchange closely, while in thought. He could tell that Rory was hurting, and when he saw those brown eyes of Jess', they were going to have a little chat, to make sure that they never broke another heart. Jess would either have to choose to be in the picture, or stay out of it. This was his last and final chance.